and estates to destruction, by their patriotism, without a prospect of a competent future subsistence, their ardor had abated, and a disinclination to the service prevailed that resignation of commissions were frequent, and that reliance could not be placed on men disaffected to the service. He therefore urged congress to make provision, to secure them and their families from future want and distress. Convinced of the propriety of this measure, congress on the 15th of May, 1778, resolved to grant half pay for seven years after the war, to the commissioned officers; and to non-commissioned officers and privates, eighty dollars, at the end of the war, in addition to their pay and

rations.

Of the Effects of this Grant, and the Extension of it. The half pay resolve quieted the apprehensions of the army, in a good degree, and the service was for a time, performed with zeal and alacrity. But the continual depreciation of the currency in which the troops received their wages, deprived them of a great part of their real dues, and neither officers nor soldiers could maintain a decent appearance, in point of dress, while the families of many were suffering at home. These circumstances, with the derangement of a great number of officers, in 1780, occasioned by the necessity of reducing the number of regiments, for want of their complement of men, gave rise to great discontents in the army, and called for a further interposition of congress. Upon the representation of these facts, by the commander in chief, congress on the 21st of October, 1780, resolved, that the officers should be entitled to half pay for life.

Of the State of the Army in 1783. Reposing confidence in the faith of the United States, the officers of the army remained quiet, until the close of the war. A mutiny among the soldiers, in two or three instances, occasioned some alarm, but produced no serious consequences. After the army returned from Yorktown, and encamped at Newburg, on the Hudson, a cessation ef hostilities gave them leisure to contemplate their sufferings, their losses by paper currency, and their

future prospects. At that time, a report was circulated that congress did not intend to fulfil their engagements respecting half pay. They therefore deputed a committee of officers to wait on congress, with an address and petition, representing their hardships, and embarrassmeuts-that in 1777, they had been paid in dollars when worth four pence only--and that their subsequent arrearages had not been liquidated. They therefore requested an adjustment, and payment or security for the balances due. And as the half pay resolves had given uneasiness, by establishing a precedent of pensions, they requested a sum in gross in lieu of half pay for life.

Of the Proceedings of Congress on this Memorial. In compliance with the wishes of the army, congress on the 25th of January, resolved that the superintendent of finance should pay such part of the arrears due to the army, as the finances would permit-that the states should be called on to complete a settlement with their respective troops to the first of August 1780--that the troops had an undoubted right, with all public creditors, to expect security for the payment of arrears, and that congress would make every effort in their power, to obtain from the states, substantial funds for the whole debt. The proposition for commuting half pay during life, for a specific sum, was referred to a committee to examine the value of annuities, anfl'on their report a resolution was proposed granting five years full pay in lieu of half pay for life, but it did not pass. On the 8th of February the committee made a report of these proceedings to the army.

Of the Reception of this Report by the Army. As congress had little money and no means of raising it, except the old expedient of issuing bills, the army had little hope of any immediate relief adequate to their wants; and conscious of their fidelity and meritorious services, they could not patiently brook the delays attending the settlement of their accounts. On the 10th of March a notification was circulated, without a name, requesting a meeting of the general and field officers, with one from each company, to consider the

communications from congress, and what measures it would be proper to take. With this notice was circulated an anonymous address, couched in a style of great energy, and calculated to awaken in the army the keenest sensations of indignity for the wrongs done to the officers and soldiers. The impression on the army was correspondent to the spirit of the address, and threatened a violent commotion.

Of the Conduct of General Washington in that crisis. The commander in chief with that coolness which never forsook him, and with a moderation adapted to allay the irritations of the moment, issued the next day, a notice reproving with mildness, the proposal for an irregular, unauthorised meeting, and requesting the officers to meet on a different day. On which a second address from the same unknown pen appeared, in which the author indirectly intimated that the design of his first address was not to excite to violence, but to rouse the army to assume a more bold and manly tone, in their solicitations for justice. The addresses were communicated to congress, and no doubt produced in a degree, the effect intended; for on the 22d of March, a resolution passed for a grant of five years pay, in lieu of half pay for life.

At the meeting of the officers in pursuance of the general's request, the commander in chief addressed them in a masterly manner, reprobating the anonymous address, recommending peaceable measures, and pledging himself to exert his utmost ability to procure full justice to be done to the army. The officers voted him an address of thanks, and resolved that they continued. to have unshaken confidence in the justice of congress and their country. Thus was dissipated one of the most menacing storms that ever hung over America.

Of the Dismission of the Army. At the moment this storm had subsided, news was received that the preliminaries of peace were signed, and on the 26th of May 1783, congress resolved that the commander in chief be instructed to grant furlows to the non-commissioned officers and soldiers, who were engaged

m service during the war, who should be discharged as soon as the definitive treaty should be concluded, with a due proportion of commissioned officers. Upon the publication of that resolve, the officers presented a spirited address to the commander in chief, expressing their sufferings and wants, and their severe disappointment, as well as astonishment, at being disbanded without a settlement of their accounts, and a provision for payment of the balances. They intreated him to use his influence with congress to obtain a suspension of their order, and that no officer or soldier should be obliged to receive a furlow, until congress could be made acquainted with the wretched condition into which they should be plunged, if compelled to retire from the army, without a settlement of their accounts, a payment of the balances, or any evidence of what was due to them. The request could not be grauted, but the general in his reply, stated that a partial payment was soon to be made, and that every thing practicable should be done, to bring their accounts to a final adjustment.

Of the Mutiny in Pennsylvania. As it was not possi ble for congress to make full payment to the army, nor to liquidate their accounts in a short time, and as it was important to reduce the current expenditures, the officers and soldiers inlisted for the war, were dismissed with three months pay, in notes given by the financier, payable in six months This measure excited great discontents, and in Pennsylvania occasioned a mutiny. In June 1783, about eighty soldiers belonging to a body then stationed at Lancaster, deserted their officers, and under the conduct of their sergeants, marched to Philadelphia, where they were joined by two or three hundred soldiers from the barracks in that city. On the 21st of the month they proceeded in a body and surrounding the state-house, where congress and the executive eouncil of Pennsylvania were sitting, placed guards at the doors-sent a message to the council complaining of the non-settlemeuts of their accounts, and the want of pay, and behaved in a menacing aud disorderly manner,

Of the Proceedings of Congress on this occasion. Congress, not choosing to deliberate when surrounded by armed men, adjourned and retired After the mutineers had withdrawn, congress appointed a committee to wait on the executive council of Pennsylvania, requesting their efficacious aid in securing the safety of their persons, and preventing such indignities to the authority of the United States. The committee reported, that they had not received satisfactory assurances of the prompt and adequate exertions of that state, for supporting the dignity of the federal government. Congress therefore adjourned their sittings to Trenton, where they continued for some time; and to put a stop to such outrages, general Washington was requested to send a body of troops to Philadelphia. Accordingly a detachment of fifteen hundred men was sent from head-quarters-which with other measures, quelled the mutiny. The accounts of the army had been put in a train for settlement, persons were appointed to adjust and ascertain the demands on the United States, whether for services or supplies; and certificates, which acquired the name of final settlements, were given as evidences of the balances due from the public. In these was included five years pay to the officers, in lieu of half pay for life, and eighty dollars allowance to the soldiers beyond their wages

Of the Popular Discontents on account of the Grant to the officers Scarcely was the army dismissed, when attempts were made in some parts of the country, to excite uneasiness among the people, on account of the five years extra pay to the officers, called commutation, The uneasiness was first manifested and most violent in the New-England states, and especially in Connectieut, where the symptoms of it became public in July 1783. Town meetings were held and resolutions passed, expressive of the people's disapprobation of the act of congress. It was said that the half pay, and the five years pay in lieu of it, were in the nature of pensions, which are always odious among a free people that the officers of the army had taken advantage of the necesities of the country, to extort the promise of this gratui